The candidates running to fill the Massachusetts Senate seat vacated by Secretary of State John Kerry have suspended their campaigns after two explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday.
Reps. Steven Lynch and Ed Markey, who will face off in the special Democratic primary on April 30, both announced the suspension of their campaign on Monday.
“In light of today’s events, we are suspending all campaign activity,” Lynch tweeted.
Markey is also suspending his campaign, confirmed Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee press secretary Justin Barasky. The DSCC has endorsed Markey.
Republican candidate Gabriel Gomez was running the marathon. He finished it in 4:08:03. His campaign emailed that they have “suspended all campaign related events for the day, with full reassessment tomorrow pending further information regarding today’s explosion.”
After the explosions, he tweeted: “Thoughts and prayers to all the runners, families and spectators at the Marathon today – keep safe and keep those hurt in your prayers.”
Michael Sullivan, another Republican vying for the seat, tweeted that he “is cancelling all campaign activities for the remainder of the day.”
“My thoughts and prayers to the individuals impacted by the explosion near the finish line of the Boston Marathon,” he tweeted.
The third Republican candidate, state Rep. Dan Winslow, has also suspended his campaign. “My heart goes out to all those injured at today’s Boston Marathon. My prayers will be with all those affected by this tragedy. I have ordered my campaign to suspend all activities until further notice,” Winslow said in a statement.
According to a statement posted on the Boston Marathon Facebook page, “There were two bombs that exploded near the finish line in today’s Boston Marathon. We are working with law enforcement to understand what exactly has happened.”
As of press time, reports said that 23 persons were injured and two killed.